Water wings



June 16, 1931. F. FENTON 1,810,556

WATER WINGS Filed Sept. 5, 1929 Inueniw'.

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FRANK BENTON, GE AKEQN, OHIO, ASSIGN'OR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO MILLERRUBBER CGTv'IPANY ING, OF WILMINGTOI\T,,IDELAWAEE, A CORPORATION OFDELAYVABE WATER wines Application filed. September 5,1829. Serial No.399,546.

My said invention relates to improvements in Avlad or water wings.

Heretofore, so far as I am aware, sucharticles have usually been made ofcloth which requires wetting prior to inflation to The invention alsoaims to provide an ar ticle which will be strong and durable andadapted, as a swimming appliance-or aid, for adults as well as children.

VVith'these and other objects in view, the invention comprises thenovelarticle hereinafter described and defined by the ap pended claim.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a plan view of two halves or sections of a set of waterwings before being so united.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a die used for forming the sections. 7V

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on line 33 of Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing the two sections superposedand ready for die cutting or seaming together. Fig. 5 is a plan view ofthe completed article prior to inflation. I

Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional detail through one of theinflating tubes, and,

Fig. 7 is a perspective-viewof the article inflated and ready for use.

15 In the production of this article, two sheets of; thin uncured rubberstock are properly aligned to pass under or be subjected to the actionof a suitably shaped die member 1, theshape of which isshown-diagrammatically in Fig. 2 by the action of which they arecuttog-ether on a line to give the proper contour'to form one half of aset of water wings, but leaving open the neck portion 2, and the airfilling tube 3 thereof, for purposes hereinafter referred to.

t will be understood that the two wings or sections are identical, andtherefore cut by the same die member, and that a description of oneisalso a description of the other. Each half member or section has theneck portion 2 and the wing or enlargement 4, which will fit snuglyunder the users arm in support of the body when used in the water. I V ii After the halves or sectionslhave been died out and inspected, two ofthem are placed one upon the other in proper alignment so that theirneck )ortions 2 are brought'together and are then subjected to a pinchblunt die cut across. the neck near the open end thereof whereby thehalves are united on the line (z-?).

This, when the two sections are opened out flat; i. e., one removed orunfolded from the other, produces the complete wings as shown in Fig. 5,except for the closure members for the valves, which are later inserted,after the article has been vulcanized.

In Fig. 3, the neck portion 2 is shown enlarged and exaggerated toindicate the two sheets A and B forming the article, and clearlyillustrates the open end neck 2 and the filling tube opening 3.

In F ig. 4, the halves are shown as aligned under the blunt die member5, of straightedge form, ready to be out together to complete thearticle, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

InFige 6 is shown a cross section of the air filling tube 3, which isprovided with the ordinary closure means, used in various inflatablerubber articles and toys, consisting ofa short length of semi-hardrubber tubing 6 of small diameter, which may be readily forced into thethin rubber tube 3 and securely held thereon by iriction.

Into this tube 6a short length filler pin or plug 70f similar materialto the tubing is pushed to make an effective closure in retaining theair pressure blown into the wings, when used- F ig. 7 illustratesapproximately the shape the inflated article assumes When ready for use,the user placing the neck portions 2 across the chest and the armsthereover to permit the enlarged portions or Wings 4 to float upon theWater to assist and support the persons body in the act of swimming, orfloating.

By forming the tube portions 3 simulta neously 'With the sections, Igreatly simplify the process of forming and applying the inflatingmeans, and by the method of dieing or pinch cutting the sheets together,and making them Wholly of rubber, I produce a sanitary article, one thatis air tight at the start, and is strong and durable, and is extremelyeeonomical o'f manufacture.

Having thus describedmy invention, What I claim is:

A device for assisting swimmers, said device comprising a pair ofimpervious inflatable rubber air chambers, and an inflatable pectoralyoke member inte ral therewith, said yoke member comprisingnon-eommunieating extensions of said air chambers joined by a die-cutseam.

In testimony whereof, I ailix my signature.

FRANK FENTON.

